FRENCH RED CROSS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10000, 18 June 1918, Page 7

FRENCH RED CROSS

THE APPEAL FOR FUNDS

STATEMENT BY HON. G. W, RUSSELL.

Tho Hon. G. W. Russell (Minister for Internal Affairs) lias sent tho following letter to the Mayor (Mr J. P. Lnko, C.M.G., M.P.) in reply to his application for a permit to raise funds in aid of tho French Red Cross and other patriotic work in Franco:— "1 havo the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18tb inst., applying for- a permit to collect funds to be sent to the French Governmeafc for distribution—one-half to the French Red Cross and tho other half to be applied to such special urgent patriotc needs as tho French Government may determine. "In reply I beg to point out to you that, beforo granting approval to the establishment of another fund for the purposes 6tated, it is desirable thai fuller information should be received either from you or from the ConsulGeneral for France for the Dominion.

"As you are aware, the Red Cross is an international organisation, and is spending enormous sums upon tho Western front for the benefit of all Allied combatants. The returns before me show that, in addition to its genoral responsibilities, tho Red Cross executive has made very largo contributions, directly to French patriotic funds. During the two years ended October 20th,. 1916 (the last date for which I -have figures available) there were expended in Franco and Belgium, in cash and stores, £474,151 from the Genoral Fund, including stores to the value of £25,000 for tho Croix Rouge (French Red Cross) institutions, £SOO to Prance's Day, and £-2000 to the French Wounded Emergency Fund. In addition to these, very large sums were also sent from special funds placed at the disposal of the executive. As contributions aro regularly going forward from New Zealand in support of the British Red Cross, whoso operations, as I have shown, cover France as well as all other Allied combatants, it will be seen that the Dominion is already pnrticipating in patriotic work for the direct benefit of our brave Allies of Franco. "Thoro are, however, othor and even more direct efforts to assist onr French Allies which have been mado by the Government and tho people of New Zealand. "1. On April 18th, 1917, the Government cabled £4OOO for establishment, expenses and £3OOO maintenance for hospital at Etamtirieres for the benefit of French ropatriees. The Government also undertook to pay further halfyearly sums of £3OOO towards maintenance of this institution, being a total of £16,000 in all. To this institution 23 oases of clothing wero forwarded by Lady Liverpool committees in October last. "2. Early in 1917, with tho approval of tho French Oonsul-Genoral, a fund was established for the direct assist, anco,, of; the, .Frenoh Red .Cross. - The sum''of £16,871" was raisod, of which, amount the Cercle Littorairo Francnia contributed £3B 19s 6d as tho result of a concert. "3. On February 4th, 1918, tho Government approved of a fund for Ilia benefit of the National Association of French War Orphans, Free postal privileges tyoro granted by my department, in order that a Dominion appeal might be mado. This is now in progress, and sums amounting to £14,000 have been already forwarded through the High Commissioner to 3iea&iua!rtera. The. committee is still very active, and donations_ are steadily coming forward. "Whilst the Government moat fully appreciates the heroic sacrifices which havo been mado and aro being made bv our French Allies. I regret that tho necessity for this further appeal which 13 now proposed has not beeu disclosed in your communication. Tho Government is of opinion that the proper coarse is for Now Zealand; to concentrate its energies ior the assistance of the British Red Cross. Society, leaving to the executivo of that body tho responsibility of distributing its funds amongst the French peoplo and armies, as well as those of -Britain and her other Allies. "I may remind yon that- in October next the fourth special 'Our Day' appeal will bo mado throughout tho Dominion. If, however, thoro nro other urgent noefls outside of thogo with which I have dealt, and a request is mado that a fund shall be established for them, which is supported by the ConsuMJeneral of France in this Dominion, tho Government will bo only too glad to give further consideration to the matter."